The Curse of Sleeping Beauty (2016)

After taking the night off to take Jolene to a Jake Bugg concert with Bren being sick, I decided that I needed to kick back today and relax. While I did catch a few new shows, I needed to get back to some movies to help pass some time this evening. My first choice was the 2016 adaptation of the classic fairy tale Sleeping Beauty, with The Curse of Sleeping Beauty.

Plot/ Thomas Kaiser inherits an ancestral mansion that has been in his family for generations, only to learn that he has also inherited an ancient curse stemming back to the Crusades.

Every once in a while, I decide to take a chance on something different and become extremely surprised by what I decided on. That was definitely the case with this one, as it was much better than I initially imagined. Yes, it did not come without some flaws with predictable characters, clichéd plot twists, and some of the movie felt rushed, but those issues do not totally bring the movie down. The performances are decent, the direction and cinematography work well to create some interestingly atmospheric moments, and the overall feel was much darker than I expected. In the end, this is definitely not your normal take on the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale being more of a horror flick than fantasy. As with many movies in this realm, a viewer will either love it or hate it, personally I enjoyed it. Give it a shot and make your own decision.

The Piper (2015)

I know I have been slacking when it comes to the blog. Between my capstone classes in creative writing, work, and now softball, my time has been tremendously limited. While that has been the case, I have watched my fair share of movies and am going to get back into the swing of things. First up, is the 2015 Korean indie flick, The Piper (AKA Guest).

Plot/ Shortly after the Korean War, a father, and son are wandering through the country and make a stop in a remote village, where strange and dangerous happenings occur.

This supernatural thriller was one of the better fairy tale/fable inspired movies I have seen in some time. From Korea, this independent flick features some dark atmospheric moments, yet creates something in a surreal poetic form to convey dread. The acting was tremendous, the cinematography vivid and spot on, and the suspense and darkness are ramped up throughout the film. Yes, some of the audio dubbing seems off at times and some of the characters are under-developed, but these are but minor flaws in an otherwise tremendous film. In the end, this is a version of the story of the Pied Piper that must be seen, it is one of the better adaptations to come around in some time.

Black Forest (2012)

With another week down, it is time to start my short break from the institute. While five days may not seem like a lot, it is much needed. After spending some time at my mother's Christmas Party, it was time for a movie. My selection for the evening was the 2012 SyFy Channel original Black Forest. 

Plot/  A group of strangers who sign up for a tour of of a 'black forest' where the Grimm fairy tales were supposedly written. The tour includes something of a mystical seance intended to communicate with fairies. The ritual ends up transporting the group to a parallel universe, where the Grimm characters are alive... and angry.

The Saturday night SyFy Channel creature features are always a mixed bag and often have cring-worthy moments. While this one still has some of those, it is actually one of the better SyFy Channel entries. This one has an interesting storyline, some solid performances and a touch of gore. Unfortunately, while it is one of their better entries, it does have some major flaws with a  lack of atmosphere, some cheesy effects and uneven pacing. Overall a good movie to watch. Much better than some other SyFy Channel  movies. In the end, this one may be far from perfect, but it did have some life and is watchable. Not for everyone, but if you are a fan of the SyFy Channel or Grimm Fairy Tales, check it out!

The Devil's Carnival (2012)

Every weekend I try to find something different and interesting to watch and review. While this is a challenge at times, as many entries in the indie genre can be hit-or-miss, it is something that I take enjoyment in finding. This weekend I decided to venture deep into some of the flicks I have been pushing off for the interesting musical venture, The Devil’s Carnival from one of my favorite filmmakers' Darren Lynn Bousman.

Plot/ Three individuals have, somehow, found their way to a carnival, set in hell, and run by the devil. The trio is made up of a kleptomaniac, an obsessed father, and a gullible teenager, all of whom are doomed to repeat the very sins that delivered them to the carnival's doorsteps.

I have had this movie in my queue for some time, but had not decided to watch it. Last night, the 55-minute run time fit into my schedule perfectly and I am so happy to have finally watched it. This one is not for everyone, and it is likely to be split down the middle love or hate. I personally love it. This dark and atmospheric musical does a great job of creating a twisted journey into three of Aesop's Fables.  The soundscape, the visual effects, and cinematography are tremendous. Yes, the acting is a bit uneven in spots and the short run time does have an impact, but neither drags it down. In the end, this flick is one of the better horror-themed musicals I have seen and a movie that must be seen. If you love Repo: The Genetic Opera you should definitely check this one out!

Snow White - A Tale of Terror (1997)

The daughters have been caught in a marathon of Once Upon a Time on Netflix. While I do find the show interesting, there is definitely something missing.  Maybe it is because the stories are being driven by Disney and their happiness parade, something that reminds me too much of their influence society, where there are never losers and everyone receives a trophy. Life is not a fairy tale, there are winners and losers! To maintain some of this fairy tale feel in the house last night, I decided upon the 1997 fairy tale Snow White a Tale of Terror.

Plot/ This Gothic version of the Grimm brothers' story takes place in a world of brutality and mayhem, where nature is savage, no one can be trusted and black magic is a power to be feared. 

Too many people in this world forget the true nature of the classic Grimm Fairy Tales; instead the automatically associate some of their classic stories with the Disney adaptation. During that process, they lose the reality set by these writings. This adaptation of the classic tale of Snow White is dark and atmospheric, with solid make-up effects (incredible actually), outstanding performances, interesting social context and many elements lost by the Disney Company. Of course, it does lack some character development and there are some inaccuracies toward the time period, but the does not bring it down in any way. In the end, this is one of the better adaptions of a Grimm Fairy Tale, and a movie that is quite entertaining. Check it out, it makes for an entertaining escape from reality. 

The Haunting of Helena (2012)

Being October, it is always a great time to find some decent flicks with a darker theme. This is especially true if you are searching for unknown low budget flicks, as many companies flood the market during this period. While my next entry may not totally be in the no-budget indie category, it is a foreign indie flick, which can be haphazard.  My selection for the evening was the 2012 thriller The Haunting of Helena (AKA Fairytale).

Plot/ A single mother moves into a new house with her daughter. Soon after the young girl has her first baby tooth fall off, she begins to recount that she is having nocturnal visits by a tooth fairy. It seems the house has a sinister history.

This was a very disjointed movie, almost shot with two different ideas, which never truly come together in a coherent manner. The story is interesting, albeit cliché in some parts, and the first half of the film really works. There is some incredible atmosphere, the effects (yes, even the CGI) and the overall feel works. However, something happens midway through that never truly brings the entirety together. The acting is so-so, the characterization is lacking, sound quality is uneven, the effects dissipate and the creepy atmosphere that was built early-on tends to disappear. Yes, there are some unpredictable moments, which is a positive, but those do nothing to save it from the overall disjointed feel. In the end, this is not a terrible movie, but it is also not the best in the genre. There were some entertaining moments and it seemed to have a lot of potential, but that potential was lost within the storyline that never quite came together. 

Hansel & Gretel Get Baked (2013)

With my vacation finally here, it was time to start it with some movies. While I grabbed a few flicks at the Family Video Store, there was one that really perked my interest. Hansel & Gretel Get Baked from 2013.

Plot/ A brother and sister battle a witch who lures teenagers into her suburban home with her special blend of marijuana where she then proceeds to kill and eat them to maintain her youth and beauty.

When I grabbed this, I initially thought it was going to be some type of indie stoner flick. What I found though, was an interesting take on the Hansel & Gretel fairy tale. This horror-comedy has many moments and is a lot of fun. Yes, it isn't side-splitting comedy, but its fun. The cast works well together and the scripting is solid with the cannibal /zombie / rejuvenation storyline flowing perfectly. The acting is good, the cinematography straight and the effects fall into place to add something to the comedic flair. Is it a perfect movie, no way, but it is a creative twist on a classic tail and one that should be given a chance.